Spatial and Temporal Variation in Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Rehabilitated and Undisturbed Riparian Forest

Riparian zones enhance water quality and provide wildlife habitat, but high nutrient input in agricultural landscapes causes nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, potentially negating their benefits of C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to quantify spatiotemporal N 2 O emissions in a rehabilitated and undisturbed natural riparian forest. We also determined soil and vegetation characteristics, and their role in driving spatiotemporal N 2 O emissions. Mean N 2 O‐N emissions were not significantly ( p < 0.05) different between rehabilitated (7.62 μg m −2 h −1 ) and undisturbed (5.93 μg m −2 h −1 ) riparian forests. The greatest ( p < 0.05) N 2 O‐N emissions in both riparian forests were observed during the summer. Soil moisture, temperature, and N were significantly correlated to N 2 O‐N emissions. Our results show that soil and vegetation characteristics varied between the two riparian forests, but differences in N 2 O‐N emissions were negligible. We also found that N 2 O emissions were influenced by soil characteristics and seasonality, rather than vegetation characteristics or spatial position. Core Ideas N 2 O emissions are influenced temporally rather than spatially in riparian zones. Rehabilitated and undisturbed riparian forests have similar N 2 O emissions. Seasonality and soil characteristics had a greater influence on N 2 O emissions than vegetation. Riparian systems generated hot moments rather than hot spots of N 2 O emissions.